ThinkSustany®

According to a 2009 study by AT Kearney, businesses deemed sustainably-focused in 16 of 18 industries financially outperformed their peers by 15% during the financial crisis. This lesson was not lost on businesses in Tampa Bay. Quietly, without much fanfare, green businesses are growing in the Tampa Bay area.

The Sustainable Business Coalition (SBC) and Sustainable Business Awards, in partnership with The University of Tampa (UT), began in 2008. To date, there have been 63 award winners in categories of small, medium and large business. (Here’s the list of winners.) The list amply demonstrates that sustainable business practices are being embraced all around Tampa Bay – from a behemoth like IBM to a local pizza place like Pizza Fusion.

SBC regularly hosts business events for members and the Tampa Bay community. Future SBC events are being planned right now, so stay tuned for further details.

Important Announcement: The SBC is currently accepting nominations for the 2013 Sustainable Business Awards. The 5th annual awards, in partnership with The University of Tampa, will take place in February 2013. Return the nomination form by October 12, 2012. Note that a business may nominate itself.

Think Globally, Act Locally

In the spirit of “think globally, act locally”, here is additional green business news of note:

Just last month, the head of a European solar consortium visited St. Petersburg again. The consortium continues to plan for the possibility of building a manufacturing plant there that would provide 350 jobs.

Greenbiz.com explains How Walmart Is Using its Sustainability Metrics to Drive Productivity. Walmart is #2 on the Fortune 500 list in 2012, with revenues of $447 billion. When the biggest retailer in the world insists its 100,000+ suppliers meet sustainability criteria, that creates a major ripple effect towards more sustainable business practices worldwide.